Frequently Asked Questions

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A professional who evaluates the value of property after a claim is filed and negotiates a fair settlement with the insurance company.

Their services include:

• inspecting damaged property, 
• taking photographs and measurements, 
• reviewing insurance repair estimates and policy language, 
• determining repair or replacement costs, and 
• preparing a detailed estimate to present to the insurance company.

An insurance appraiser is a key player in making sure claims are fair, accurate, and in line with policy terms.

When you feel as though your claim is being underpaid based on your policy coverage.

Here are some warning signs that your claim might be underpaid:

• Adjusters estimate is very low compared to contractor's estimate.
• Certain damages were overlooked or not mentioned in estimate.
• Estimate doesn't account for building code upgrades.
• Labor costs appear to be underestimated.
• Adjuster rushed through inspection.
• Your claim was partial denied without clear explanation.

Key reasons why claims are underpaid include:

• Insurance adjusters do not work for you and are trained to minimize the company's financial exposure to help maintain profits.
• One common tactic is misclassifying the cause of the damage to avoid payment.  For example, improperly identifying hail damage as blistering.
• Another tactic is to use property depreciation to reduce payout even if your policy includes recoverable depreciation coverage.
• Adjuster does not spend enough time assessing damage.

When you feel your claim is underpaid, you have several options:

• Understand your policy.
• Document everything thoroughly - take a lot of photos and videos of damage before repairs begin.
• Get independent assessments - contact an independent adjuster or an appraiser for an unbiased assessment.